Outcry as budget of Government 'anti-snooping' agency is slashed

Ministers are preparing to slash the budget of the Government's surveillance watchdog despite pledging to protect the public from Big Brother-style snooping.

Sources say that the Office of the Surveillance Commissioner, which is headed by the former Court of Appeal judge Sir Christopher Rose, is facing an "unacceptable" cut to its annual £1.8million funding.

Sir Christopher, who was appointed by the Prime Minister to scrutinise the surveillance activities of police, councils and other public bodies, has already met Home Secretary Theresa May to warn that his organisation will be unable to do its job properly if the cut goes ahead, and he is understood to be preparing to raise the issue directly with David Cameron.

Ministers have repeatedly vowed to curb excessive state surveillance. Only days ago, Mrs May unveiled the new "Protection of Freedoms" Bill, with revised rules on DNA retention, anti-paedophile vetting and CCTV and "snooping" by town hall staff. There is also continuing controversy over undercover police operations prompted by revelations about the conduct of former Met officer Mark Kennedy.

He worked undercover for the National Public Order Intelligence Unit, infiltrating environmental protest groups, conducting at least two affairs with female activists and using a reported £200,000 expense account, in an operation which critics said was disproportionate and out of control.

Insiders warned, however, that the proposed cut to the surveillance watchdog would severely limit the extent of checks on police activities and increase the risk of abuses going undetected.

"The sum that is being proposed is unacceptable," said one official. "It takes no account of what is actually needed to do the job or the fact that there is public pressure for more scrutiny of surveillance, not less.

"Negotiations are continuing, but, if he has to, Sir Christopher will raise it directly with the Prime Minister."

The cut is understood to amount to several hundred thousand pounds. The watchdog's latest annual report, for 2009/10, shows it spent £1.73million of its £1.83 million budget and the team is understood to be asking for a similar figure this year.

They check legal documentation prepared by police and other organisations to ensure that any surveillance or "property interference" is lawful, necessary and proportionate. Last year's report shows they uncovered 78 breaches of the rules in 12 months.